Starting Next Week

As you can see (the members that are here and by the pictures) we are getting ready for the final prep work for overseeding the golf course. I have been asked numerous times by our members when we are closing for overseeding.  The golf course will be closed on the 5^th of October and will re-open November 4^th.  This will give our members an extra day (the 4^th of October) to enjoy the golf course.

The seeding process will take anywhere from 7 - 10 days depending on the weather and the mowing will start 6 to 7 days after that time.  We ask that once you see the water running please no longer drive your cart on the golf course.  Every year some does and we have to repair the damage so I am hoping this year that will not happen.  Some may have noticed the hibiscus being removed from behind the pro shop.  The plant was dying first from disease, and then by insects.

It was decided to completely remove it for this reason and also since the plant blocked the new fitness center's window -- not installed yet.

Bakersville

No ... you did not move to outside Bakersville.  Yesterday, while I was in meetings I had Ernie spread out the mulch that I always put in the flower beds to prep them for the upcoming flowers.  For 12 years I have been buying my mulch from CA Bio Mass and have never experienced any problem ... while until now.

The mulch obviously wasn't composed in the same manner that it has been in the past and has a wonderful aroma that will remind you of driving through Bakersville.  We tried covering by using lime which I guess is great for dead bodies but did not reduce the smell of the mulch.  I contacted the owner of the CA Bio Mass and he is bring a spray chemical that he says will work.  Hopefully, very soon we will have this under control.

Overseeding Rates

I have heard numerous questions on why we seed at the rates we do compared to those others in the Valley who may seed at lesser rates ... the big reason is cart traffic.

As you can see in this picture of the seedling (ryegrass) there is very little root structure thus as the cart traffic runs over this new seedling death can and does occur.  This can be a loss of up to 30% in some areas and is the main reason that in November you see the drive off areas look like they are thinning.  Thus where other golf courses in the Valley keep you on the cart path until Thanksgiving, here at Avondale where we do not have wall-to-wall cart paths we seed heavier.

Upcoming Overseeding

It is that time of year again and we are getting ready for the upcoming overseeding.  This year the course will close on the 5th of Oct instead of the 3rd, thus other than the scheduled event on Monday the members have the golf course for a couple of extra days.

There have been a couple of questions about the overseeding this year that I hope I can answer.  One of the questions was "why, did we start so early? and why are other golf courses green?"  We have started already the scalping process as we do every year at this time.  The reason we start this a little earlier than some other courses is to get a jump on the process since we are the only golf course in the Valley that doesn't utilize OT in the overseeding process.  To the question about if a course is green, most, to all other golf courses that close and overseed at the same time we do are doing the exact same thing and are in the exact same state we are; however, this does vary from course to course.  Thus, a greener golf course may have a later closing date than we do at Avondale.

If all goes well we should be able to have the course prepped & seeded on time thus giving us the maximum amount of days to grow in the new crop before opening in November.

It Has Been A While

It has been almost two weeks since I have written any thing on the blog.  There are a few reasons for that from many team members on vacation to the fact that little is happening but general maintenance of the golf course which is quite boring. 

Many of you in the summer may have seen me and Ernie on machines prepping the golf course this summer almost daily, especially over the past month or two.  Trying to keep the budgets in check we have had a reduced crew size again this summer along with having several team members go on vacation within the last couple of months to make our budget.  Overall, we have been keeping up it just takes us longer than normal to address members concerns ... but they are still getting addressed.

Overseeding is almost here and the seed has arrived.  We have started the prepping of the golf course as usual and starting on the 5th of October we will go in full swing.  This year we are using two less crew members for the process but with the team I have we will still get everything done ... it just may add a day or two in the beginning of the seeding process. But the good news is that Shaun and Brian said they would help us if needed to get the job done on time.  Now that is team effort!!

Even with these staff reductions now and for the upcoming season you can rest assure that we will still give our members the very best service and product we can.  We project that we will still get everything done as we always do but you will have to understand not as quickly as our members have come to expect.  But I still believe you will be quite pleased.

September Timelines

Timelines:

a.      Upcoming Week:

a)            Sept 5 – 12^th two team members on vacation.

b)            Sept 7^th cutting way back on watering.

b.      In Next Week After:

a)            Sept 12^th start lowering rough HOC to final 0.500.

b)            Sept 12^th starting piles on 5, 9 & 14 near road.

c)            Sept 12^th trimming of trees for sunlight for seed.

d)            Sept 12^th seed delivery.

e)            Sept 14^th pump & well PM.

c.       In Near Future:

a)            Sept 19^th heavy Primo greens (overseeding prep).

b)            Sept 22^nd start prepping the CH for overseed.

c)            Sept 22^nd Vector Control is treating fire ants.

d)            Sept 20 – 23^rd Primo fairways & tees (overseed prep).

e)            Sept 26^th spraying greens with Heritage, Cascade & X-Sodis (prep).

f)             During the Week Sept 26^th we will be removing everything from the golf course (rakes,  ball washers, tee markers, divot boxes, etc.) except cups & flags.

g)            Sept 27^th prepping nurseries, CGs & small PG for overseeding.

h)            Oct 1^st weekend no crew working.

i)              Oct 3 – 4^th NO crew … course open.

j)              Oct 5^th course closed … overseeding begins.